Moving toy



Nov. 26, 1940.

H. BILLER MOVING Toy Filed July 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H mvmgcgm owva X u.

H. BILLER Nbv.26,1940.

MOVING TOY Filed July 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v .2 Q lisiwl fi 1 lNVENTOR Patented Nov. 26; 1946 UNITED STATES MOVING TOY Hans Biller, Nuremberg, Germany.

Application July 22, 1939, Serial No. 285,990 I In Germany August 10, 1938 13 Claims. (Cl. 272-31) My invention relates to improvements in moving toys; particularly in toys where the movements of the toy can be controlled from a remote point.

One object of my invention is to provide a toy in which a moving part of the toy is arrested when a fire weapon is fired oiI.

Another object of. my invention is to provide a toy in which one or more objects such as aircraft, birds, figures of animals or persons, are

set in motion when a fire weapon is cocked, and arrested when the weapon is fired oif.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy comprising one or more aircraft, for instance airplanes which can be propelled around a standard, and a'fire weapon, for example an anti-aircraft gun. I further provide means which are connected with the weapon and the driving mechanism 'for the aircraft in such a manner go that the cooking movement of the weapon operates the control means for the craft thus starting them and that the movement of the hammer when the weapon is fired ofl arrests the driving mechanism thus stopping the aircraft. By this 25 arrangement I create the impression that the effect of firing the fire weapon actuallyterminates the flight of the aircraft whilevactually themovement of the hammer operates locking means provided on the driving mechanism. I 30 have found that the impression 'thus obtained is very surprising and amusing and gives a toy according to my invention a new and substantial play value.

Other. objects of my invention are means to 35 give the simulated shooting down of an aircraft or other target astill more natural appearance, for instance I may connect theaircraft with the driving mechanism in such a manner that the aircraft may continue its rotation for awhile 40 after the driving power is cut oil and land smoothly. Further, I may provide means so that a certain aircraft is always grounded, for instance by makingo'ne craft heavier. This adds another surprise element thus increasing the play 45 value. I further may provide a flexible connection between. the fire weapon and the driving mechanism which may be covered. Then no;

connection between the two elements is visible and the obtained result is very puzzling to any- 50 one not familiar with the game. I may also provide means which produce a humming-sound as long as the aircraft are propelled thus simulating thesoundof aircraftengines. a Other and further objects and advantages of 55 my invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings several embodiments of myinvention are shown. s

Fig. 1 is a side view andva partial longitudinal 5 section of a toy, according to my invention in which several rotating airplanes canv be controlled from a remote point by operating an anti-aircraft gun.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of Fig. 1 but without 10 the rotating planes, the parts being partly broken away. a 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the elements for carrying'the rotating planes on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of Fig. 3. 15

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of part of Fig. 1 along the line VV and shows a detail of the anti-aircraft gun on an enlarged scale.

Fig. dis a side view and a partial longitudinal section of a second embodiment of, a toy according to my invention in which several rotating airplanes are controlled from a remote point by operating an anti-aircraft gun; the gun is shown in its fired position. a

Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section along line VlI-VII of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 shows a side view of the anti-aircraft gun in its cocked position.

On a base plate I a driving mechanism is provided which comprises a spring 2 which drives a gear wheel 3 which in turn drives a pinion 4 which is arranged on one axle with a gear wheel 5. This gear wheel drives a pinion 6 which propels a shaft 1. On the same shaft a gear wheel 8 is arranged which in-turn drives pinion 9 to which a gear wheel I0 is secured. This drives governor I2 over pinion ll. -Numeral l3;desig-' nates a wind-up for'the driving mechanism.

My invention is not limited to the illustrated driving mechanism but. any other'suitable driv- 40 ing mechanism by which a shaft 1 is propelled can be used. Instead of a driving mechanism. .driven by a spring a driving mechanism in which another source of energy, forinstance a rubber string or electricity, is utilized also can be employed. Wind-up" II can be so arranged that the driving mechanism can be-wound up from the bottom. s W

' Shaft I carries. two planes l4 and I5 which are to beoperated according to my invention. In

' the drawings two'planes are shown butthe number of planes canbe reduced or increased. Each plane is carried by -a-rod l6 which ends on-one side in a loop ll. This loop I! can be slipped into a correspondingieyelet or slot i l in the wings of I to arrange the carrier rigidly on shaft I.

the planes. Preferably, the end I 2 oi. rod I2 is bent oil as shown in Fig. 4 in order to give a landed plane a more natural position. 01 course, any other suitable connection between the rods and the wings or the fuselage can be provided. It is also possible to connect a plane pivotally with its rod.

The other end of each rod I8 is bent off to form an axle 20 by means of which the rods are connected with a carrier 2|. This carrier comprises a base plate 22 and two walls 23 which serve as bearings for axles 20. Rods I6 rest on base plate 22 so that they are held in a stretched position but can be swung upwards pivoting around their axles 20. Lips 22 prevent a lateral movement of rods I6. Base plate 22 is provided with a hole 25 bymeans of which the carrier can be slid on shaft 7. It is held in a certain position .on this shaft by means of a sleeve 26 slipped over shaft I. This sleeve 26 may consist of rubber or any other material comparatively highly frictional. I hereby obtain that rods I6 and with them airplanes I2 and. I5 are taken along if shaft 1 is propelled but do not come to an abrupt standstill if shaft 1 is arrested but continue rotation for a certain time.

However, my invention is not limited to the construction of the carrier illustrated and described but any other suitable pivotal connection between the rods carrying the planes and the propelled shaft 1 can be used. It is also possible Then it will be started and arrested simultaneously with the shaft. This can be easily accomplished by providing a square hole 25 and a corresponding square end of shaft I.

The two planes are so arranged that they are out of equilibrium. This can be accomplished easily either by making'one of the planes heavier or one of rods I6 longer. Then the heavier plane or the plane connected with the longer rod will always be grounded when not propelled. In the embodiment shown it is plane I5.

Base plate I which may have any desired shape and size also carries the fire weapon ;in the embodiment shown the weapon is a'durn'my antiaircraft gun. This gun comprises a barrel 21, a gun-carriage 28, a hammer 29, and a hammer spring 20 which tendsto snap the trigger out of its cocked position against the rear end of barrel- 21. Hammer 22 may have a circular groove for the reception of a cap 2| which is detonated if knocked by hammer 29 against the barrel end. The trigger is locked in its cocked positionby a knee lever 22 which is pivotally arranged on base plate I by means of a pivot 22 or other suitable means. Knee lever 22 is provided with a lip 22 under which hammer 22 can be slipped if it is to be locked in its cocked position. Pivotally connected with lever 22 is a second lever 22 which is pivotal around pivot 22. This second lever 22 inturn is pivotally connected with a lever2'l which is continued by a rod 22. Levers 22 and 21 and rod 22 are arranged on the underside of base plate I. The pivot connecting levers 22 and 22 is passed through an aperture or slot 22'. in base plate I. This aperture must be wide enough to permit'a swinging movement of levers 22 and 22. At the free end of rod 22 a lip ordisc 22 is provided which projects through a slot 22 in base plate I. 'Ihisdiscabuts sgainstaresiiient. 2| which is secured by soldering, riveting, a or other suitable means to base plate I or to ornamental cover 22. This cover may have shapeofamountainoranyotherlandscapesnd.

serves to hide the driving mechanism, so that the toy appears more realistic. Arm 2| is so arranged that it rests gently against gear wheel 5. Thereby I accomplish that a humming sound is produced when the driving mechanism and with it gear wheel 5 are running thus simulating the sound of airplane engines. A spring 23 tends to slide rod 38 in a direction indicated by arrow I and so to press the rod against resilient arm 2|. As obvious, increased pressure against arm M will increase the pressure exercised by this arm against gear wheel 5 whereby the driving mechanism and with it shaft I are arrested. The connection between knee lever 32 and resilient arm M can be arranged in any other suitable manner. Several additional levers can be included if necessary but it is also possible to provide a more direct connection. Furthermore, it is possible to omitthe sound producing device and to control the driving mechanism directly by rod 22.

If the toy is to be used, the planes and their carrier are brought into a position similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Then the driving mechanism is wound up by means of a suitable key and wind-up I3. However, the driving mechanism will not start to propel shaft 1 since spring 22 presses rod 38 against arm 2I whereby the driving mechanism is locked. If the planes are to be started the anti-aircraft gun is brought-into its cocked position by pressing hammer 29 downward against the strength of hammer spring 20 and pivoting knee lever 32 in a direction indicated by arrow II so that the hammer end can be slipped under lip 22. By the wedge eiiect hammer and knee lever 32 lock and hold each other in their positions. A cap 2| may or may not be placed upon hammer I 22. By pivoting knee lever 22 rod 22 is withdrawn from resilient arm 2I against the resistance of spring 22. The driving mechanism starts to run. The arm 2I sliding on gear wheel 5 produces a humming sound and at the same time shaft I begins to rotate planes I2 and II and plane II will take oi! by centrifugal force. Both planes will then rotate around shaft I.

If the playing person wants to shoot down one of the planes-of course, actually only plane .Ii can'be downed-the anti-aircraft gun is'iired ofl by releasing hammer 22. Hammer spring 22 will snap the hammer against the barrel thus their rotation by force of inertia but will slow down. Finally, plane II will land.

the anti-aircraft mm was actually the cause oi the landing oi the plane II.

The second embodiment according to my invention as illustrated in Figs. 8. 'Land 8 is distinguished from the first one thereby that the antiaircrstt gun is not ammged'on a common base plate with the driving mechanism but is con- By this arrangementit appears as Hiring of nected with these elements only by a so-callcd- "Bowden-wire." This arrangement allows the -changingoithepositlonottheg1mwithincertamlimitsthusgivingthetpyastillmorenatural appearance. l urthermore, the control and lockingmesns orepartlychangedss'willbeillustrsted in detail hereinaiter The arrangement oi planes I2 and I2 and their driving mechanism are similar to the arrangement and mechanism described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Spring 2 which can be wound up by wind-up (3 drives gear wheel 3- which drives pinion 4 which drives gear wheel 5 which drives pinion 6 which drives shaft I and gear wheel 8 which latter drives pinion 9 which .drives gear wheel l0 which drives pinion l I which drives. governor l2. Wind-upv l3 extends downwardly but of course it can also be arranged to extend upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. A frame 44 for the driving mechanism is arranged on the' numeral 52 designates the hammer which is pivotally connected to carriage 5| by means of an axle 53. This axle. also carries a coil shaped hammer spring 54 which has an arm 55 abutting against a base plate 56 for the gun. This spring tends to snap the hammer against projection 50. The hammer is provided with a circular groove 51 in which a cap may or may not be inserted. Hammer 52 is locked in its cocked position shown in Fig. 8. By means of a control lever 58 which ispivotally secured to carriage 5| by means of an axle 59. This lever has a catch or nose 60 which may slip under the edge 01! hammer 52 thus looking it in its cocked position. Lever 58 is controlled by a coil spring 6| which is slipped over axle 59 and has two arms, one, 62, abutting against carrier plate 49, and the other, 63, abutting against a projection 64 of-lever 58. This spring tends to pivot lever 58 in a direction indicated by arrow III. on axle 59 a second substantially U-shaped lever 65 is carried with one leg pivotally arranged. Lever 65 is passed through-a slot 66 provided in hammer 52. 65 to swing around its axle 59 in a direction indicated by arrow IV if hammer 52 is cocked. The other leg of lever 65 is connected to a so-called Bowden-Wire.

a sleeve formed by a resilient spiral and a wire 68 arranged within sleeve 61. Wire 68 is passed through an opening 69in the wall of carriage 51 against the edge of which sleeve 61 abuts, so

I a hook I0 and on the other side by a spring I3 which is secured for instance by a lip I4 to base plate 41. This spring tends to pull element II in a direction indicated by arrow VIII. The ele-.

ment is secured by a'flange l5 against'lateral movement. It is provided with'a vertical flange If the toy is to be used the driving mechanism is first wound up, the planes with their rods are set upon their driving shaft 1 and then the antiaircraft gun is brought into-any position desired Slot 66 is so arranged that it forces lever Sucha wire consists of an ex- 'ternal sleeve 61 of flexible material, preferably by theplaying person. The Bowden wire connect gun and driving mechanism may be covered by'any suitable material thus concealing I the connection between the two elements. Assuming that the gun is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the driving mechanism is arrested and plane I5 is grounded. When a playing person wants to start the planes he only has to cock the gun. By the hammer movement lever 65 is swung in the direction indicated by arrow IV, and wire 68 pulls element II against the resistance of spring I8 into its position indicated by dottedlines. In this position governor I2 is released and the driving mechanism will start to run and plane [5 will take 011. Both planes will rotate around shaft 1 at about the same level. Hammer 52 and with it lever 65 are held in their position by catch 60 of control lever 58. If the playing person wants to shoot down plane 15 he aims at planel5-or more correctly, actsas if he aims at plane i5-and pulls control lever 58 opposite the direction indicated by arrow III. Consequently, hammer 52 is releas ed and snaps against projection 50. Lever 65 is no longer held by the slot 66 of hammer 52 and spring 13 pulls element 'Il back into its original position in which it locks governor l2. The driving mechanism and with it shaft 1 are consequently arbe, made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Instead of airplanes any other aircraft, for instance, dirigibles, can be used; furthermore, birds, kites, etc may be used. The illustrated anti-aircraft gun can be replaced by any other weapon, for instance, a rifle or machine gun.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toy comprising at least one dummy air- I craft, a support for suspending said aircraft, a driving mechanism for propelling said aircraft around said support, means forarresting and ,Ieleasing said driving mechanism, means for controlling said means for arresting and releas- 2. A toy comprising at least one dummy air craft, a support for suspending said aircraft, a driving mechanism for propellingsaid aircraft around said support, means adapted for controlling said driving mechanism, said means adapted to assume one of two. positions, one befrom their arresting position into'their releasing position when said hammer is brought from .its uncooked position into its cocked position.

3. A toy comprising at least two dummy aircraft, means for connecting said dummy aircraft, a support for suspending said aircraft, means for mounting said aircraft pivotally but out of equilibrium on said support, a driving mechanism for propelling said air'crait around said support, means for controlling said driving mechanism, said means adapted to assume one of two positions, one being an arresting position and the other being a releasing position, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing of a shot, means for actuating said weapon, and means for coupling said actuating means and saidcontrol means for effecting a shifting of said control means from their arresting position into their releasing position when said actuating means for said weapon are brought from their'initial position into their position ready for firing a shot.

4. A toy comprising at least two dummy aircraft, a rod for connecting saidaircraft, a support for suspending said aircraft, means for mounting an intermediate point of said rod pivotally on said support, one section of said rod being longer than the other, a driving mechanism for propelling said aircraft around said support, means for controlling said driving mechanism, .said means adapted to assume one 0t two positions, one being an arresting position and the other being a releasing position, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing of a shot, means'for actuating said weapon and means for coupling said actuating means and said control means for efiecting a shifting of said control means from their arresting position intotheir releasing position when said actuating means for 'said weapon are brought from their initial position into their position ready for firing a shot. 7

5. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved,-a driving mechanism for said element, means for arresting and releasing said driving mechanism, means for controlling said means for arresting and releasing, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing ofa shot and arranged at a point remote from said driving mechanism, means for actuating said weapon and rods coupling said actuating means with said control meansfor efiecting an actua-- tion of said control means when said actuating means for said weapon are operated.

6. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to-be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, means for arresting and releasing said driving mechanism, means for controlling said means for arresting and releasing, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing or a shot and arranged at a point remote from said driving mechanism, means for actuating said weapon and flexible means coupling said actuating means with said control means for eifecting an actuation of said control means when said actuating means for said weapon are operated.

'7. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, means for arresting and releasing said driving mechanism, means for controlling said means for arresting and releasing, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing o! a shot and arranged at a point remote from said driving mechanism, means for actuating said weapon and a Bowden-wire for coupling said actuating means with said control means for efi'ecting an actuation of said control means when said actuating means for said weapon are operated. 4

8. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, a moveable member adapted in a certain position to arrest said driving mechanism, means tending to urge said moveable member from a releasing position into its arresting position, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing of a shot, a hammer for said fire weapon, means for coupling said hammer with said moveable member, said coupling means being arranged to hold said moveable member in a releasing position when said hammer is cocked but to permit it to be urged into its arresting position it said hammer is brought into its uncooked position.

9. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, a slideable member adapted in a certain position to arrest said driving mechanism, a

- spring tending to urge said slideable member from a releasing position into its arresting position, a dummyfire weapon adapted to simulate the firing of a shot, a hammer for said weapon, means for locking said hammer in its cocked position, means for coupling said slideable member with said hammer, said coupling means arranged to hold said slideable member in its releasing position if said hammer is in its cocked position, a control lever for releasing said hammer and said slideable member if operated whereby the spring restores said slideable member into its arresting position.

10. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, a slideable member adapted in a certain position to arrest said driving mechanism, a spring tending to urge said slideable member from a releasing position into its arresting position, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firlngof a shot, a hammer for said weapon,

means for locking said hammer in its cocked position, rods for coupling said slideable member with said hammer, said rods arranged to hold said slideable member in its releasing position if said hammer is in its cocked position, a control lever for releasing said hammer and said slideable member if operated whereby said spring restores said slideable member into its arresting position.

11. A toy comprising at least one element adapted to be moved, a driving mechanism for said element, a member arranged to rest gently against a moving element of said driving mechanism thus producing a sound when said driving mechanism is running and capable of being pressed against said moving element thus arresting said driving mechanism, means for pressing said, member against said moving element of said driving mechanism, a dummy fire weapon adapted to simulate the firing of a shot, means for actuating said weapon, means for coupling said actuating means with said pressing means for effecting a pressing of said means against said member thus arresting said driving mechanism when said actuating means for said weapon are operated.

12. A toy comprising at least one dummy aircraft, a support for suspending said aircraft, a driving mechanism for'propelling said aircraft around said support, a slideable member adapted in a certain position to arrest said driving mechanism, a spring tending to urge said slideable memher from a releasing position into its arresting position, a dummy fire weapon, adapted to simulate the firing of' a shot, a hammer for actuating position, means for connecting said hammer with said-slideable member, said means being arranged to hold said slideable member against the resistance of said spring in its arresting position when said hammer is in its cocked position.

13. A toy comprising at least two dummy aircraft, a rod for connecting said aircraft, a support for suspending said aircraft, means for mounting an intermediate point of said rod pivotally on said support, one section of said rod being longer than the other, a driving mechanism for propelling said aircraft-around said support, a slideable member adapted to arrest in a certain position said driving mechanism, a spring tending to urge said slideable member from a releasing position into its arresting position, a dummy amt-aircraft gun arranged at a point remote from said driving mechanism, a hammer for actuating said anti-aircraft gun, a control lever provided with a catch for locking said hammer in its cocked position, a flexible connection between said hammer and said slideable member adapted to create a unity of movement between said hammer and said slideable member and arranged to hold said slideable member againstthe resistance of aid spring in its arresting position when said hammer is in its cocked position.

' HANS BILL-ER. 

